Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
  • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
  • C03B27/00—Tempering or quenching glass products
  • C03B27/04—Tempering or quenching glass products using gas
  • C03B27/044—Tempering or quenching glass products using gas for flat or bent glass sheets being in a horizontal position
  • C03B27/048—Tempering or quenching glass products using gas for flat or bent glass sheets being in a horizontal position on a gas cushion
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
  • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
  • C03B27/00—Tempering or quenching glass products
  • C03B27/04—Tempering or quenching glass products using gas
  • C03B27/044—Tempering or quenching glass products using gas for flat or bent glass sheets being in a horizontal position
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
  • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
  • C03B25/00—Annealing glass products
  • C03B25/04—Annealing glass products in a continuous way
  • C03B25/06—Annealing glass products in a continuous way with horizontal displacement of the glass products
  • C03B25/08—Annealing glass products in a continuous way with horizontal displacement of the glass products of glass sheets
  • C03B25/093—Annealing glass products in a continuous way with horizontal displacement of the glass products of glass sheets being in a horizontal position on a fluid support, e.g. a gas or molten metal
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
  • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
  • C03B27/00—Tempering or quenching glass products
  • C03B27/02—Tempering or quenching glass products using liquid
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
  • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
  • C03B29/00—Reheating glass products for softening or fusing their surfaces; Fire-polishing; Fusing of margins
  • C03B29/04—Reheating glass products for softening or fusing their surfaces; Fire-polishing; Fusing of margins in a continuous way
  • C03B29/06—Reheating glass products for softening or fusing their surfaces; Fire-polishing; Fusing of margins in a continuous way with horizontal displacement of the products
  • C03B29/08—Glass sheets
  • C03B29/12—Glass sheets being in a horizontal position on a fluid support, e.g. a gas or molten metal
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
  • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
  • C03B35/00—Transporting of glass products during their manufacture, e.g. hot glass lenses, prisms
  • C03B35/14—Transporting hot glass sheets or ribbons, e.g. by heat-resistant conveyor belts or bands
  • C03B35/22—Transporting hot glass sheets or ribbons, e.g. by heat-resistant conveyor belts or bands on a fluid support bed, e.g. on molten metal
  • C03B35/24—Transporting hot glass sheets or ribbons, e.g. by heat-resistant conveyor belts or bands on a fluid support bed, e.g. on molten metal on a gas support bed
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
  • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
  • C03B35/00—Transporting of glass products during their manufacture, e.g. hot glass lenses, prisms
  • C03B35/14—Transporting hot glass sheets or ribbons, e.g. by heat-resistant conveyor belts or bands
  • C03B35/22—Transporting hot glass sheets or ribbons, e.g. by heat-resistant conveyor belts or bands on a fluid support bed, e.g. on molten metal
  • C03B35/24—Transporting hot glass sheets or ribbons, e.g. by heat-resistant conveyor belts or bands on a fluid support bed, e.g. on molten metal on a gas support bed
  • C03B35/246—Transporting continuous glass ribbons
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G49/00—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for
  • B65G49/05—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for for fragile or damageable materials or articles
  • B65G49/06—Conveying systems characterised by their application for specified purposes not otherwise provided for for fragile or damageable materials or articles for fragile sheets, e.g. glass
  • B65G49/063—Transporting devices for sheet glass
  • B65G49/064—Transporting devices for sheet glass in a horizontal position
  • B65G49/065—Transporting devices for sheet glass in a horizontal position supported partially or completely on fluid cushions, e.g. a gas cushion
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
  • Y02P40/00—Technologies relating to the processing of minerals
  • Y02P40/50—Glass production, e.g. reusing waste heat during processing or shaping
  • Y02P40/57—Improving the yield, e-g- reduction of reject rates

Definitions

• This disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for heat transfer to and/or from glass articles by conduction more than convection.
• the disclosure relates to heating and/or thermally tempering glass articles by conduction more than convection.
• the present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for the controlled transport of glass articles undergoing the heating and/or thermal tempering of the '232 application.
• the disclosure provides such controlled transport without mechanical contact with the glass article so as to avoid degradation of the surface properties of the article during the heating and/or thermal tempering.
• glass sheet(s) and glass ribbon(s) are used broadly in the specification and in the claims and include sheet(s) and ribbon(s) that comprise one or more glasses and/or one or more glass-ceramics, as well as laminates or other composites that include one or more glass and/or one or more glass-ceramic components.
• glass article(s) is used to refer to glass sheet(s) and glass ribbon(s) collectively.
• Heating or cooling (including thermally tempering) a glass article more by conduction than by convection shall mean heating or cooling under conditions which satisfy Equation (18) of the '232 application.
• a method for heating or cooling e.g., thermally tempering
• a glass sheet (13) or a glass ribbon (15) by conduction more than convection the glass sheet or the glass ribbon having opposing major surfaces (11 )
• the method comprising: (a) controlling the movement of the glass sheet (13) or the glass ribbon (15) while the glass sheet (13) or the glass ribbon (15) is in or is passing through a gap (23) in which pressure is applied to the opposing major surfaces (11) of the glass sheet (13) or the glass ribbon (15); and
• heating or cooling e.g., thermally tempering the glass sheet (13) or the glass ribbon (15) by conduction more than convection while it is in or is moving through the gap (23);
• step (a) comprises applying at least one gas-based force to the glass sheet (13) or the glass ribbon (15) which gas-based force has at least one component whose direction is parallel to a major surface (11) of the glass sheet (13) or the glass ribbon (15).
• the gas-based force will have at least one of an x-component (either positive or negative) and a y-component (either positive or negative) and may have both.
• the gas-based force may also have a z-component (either positive or negative).
• Vector 17 in FIG. 1 illustrates the case where the gas-based force has an orientation with respect to major surface 11 such that the force has x and z components (see, for example, the embodiment of FIGS. 4-6), vector 19 illustrates the case where the gas-based force has only an x component (see, for example, the embodiment of FIGS. 13-15), and vector 21 illustrates the case where the gas-based force has only a
• the gas-based force can also have: (i) only y and z components, (ii) only x and y components, or (iii) x, y, and z components.
• the gas-based force can be applied to the bottom surface, both the top and bottom surfaces, and/or to one or more edges of the glass article.
• the gas-based force causes the glass sheet or the glass ribbon to move in a desired direction and/or to acquire a desired orientation, while in other embodiments, the gas-based force causes the glass sheet or the glass ribbon to retain a desired position and/or a desired orientation.
• the gas-based force can be applied to the glass sheet or the glass ribbon continuously or intermittently.
• the gas-based force is applied by gas bearing outlets that are slanted, i.e., the outlets are at an angle relative to vertical. In other embodiments, the gas-based force is applied through one or more gas walls produced by a locally higher gas flow rate.
• the gas wall(s) can be arranged parallel to the direction of motion of the glass sheet or the glass ribbon (hereinafter referred to as longitudinal wall(s)) or can be transverse to the direction of motion (hereinafter referred to as transverse wall(s)).
• the glass wall(s) apply a reactive force (the gas-based force) to a glass sheet or a glass ribbon when the glass sheet or glass ribbon comes into contact with the flowing gas of the wall.
• the wall(s) can be used to align glass article(s) during treatment, to control their spacing, and/or to control their speed, including temporarily bringing one or more articles to rest.
• a glass sheet or a glass ribbon is passed from a heating zone to a quench zone without the use of a transition zone
• a transition zone is used but is made short enough so that vertical support of the glass sheet or the glass ribbon while it is being passed through the transition zone is not required
• a transition zone is used which provides one-sided or two-sided vertical support to the glass sheet or the glass ribbon as it is being passed through the transition zone
• a transition zone is used which provides vertical mechanical support to the glass sheet or the glass ribbon as it is being passed through the transition zone.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the application of gas-based forces to a glass sheet or glass ribbon (represented collectively by the reference number 9) where the force has at least one component parallel to major surface 11 of the sheet or ribbon.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing a side view of apparatus for heating, transitioning, and quenching glass sheets in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing showing a side view of apparatus for heating, transitioning, and quenching a glass ribbon in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.
• FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are schematic drawings showing apparatus for controlling movement of glass sheets using gas-based forces produced by slanted outlets of a gas bearing.
• FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view through the slanted outlets of the gas bearing
• FIG. 5 is a top view
• FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view through vertical outlets of the gas bearing.
• FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 are schematic drawings showing apparatus for controlling movement of glass sheets, e.g., alignment of glass sheets, using gas-based forces produced by longitudinal gas walls.
• FIG. 7 is a top view
• FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view through vertical outlets of a gas bearing
• FIG. 9 is an end cross-sectional view through the longitudinal gas walls and the vertical outlets of the gas bearing.
• FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 are schematic drawings showing apparatus for controlling movement of glass sheets, e.g., alignment of glass sheets, using gas-based forces produced by a side gas pressure system.
• FIG. 10 is a top view
• FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view through vertical outlets of a gas bearing
• FIG. 12 is an end cross-sectional view through two opposing nozzles of the side gas pressure system and the vertical outlets of the gas bearing.
• FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 are schematic drawings showing apparatus for controlling movement of glass sheets, e.g., spacing between glass sheets, using gas-based forces produced by transverse gas walls.
• FIG. 13 is a top view
• FIG. 14 is a side cross-sectional view through the transverse gas walls and vertical outlets of a gas bearing
• FIG. 15 is an end cross-sectional view through the vertical outlets of the gas bearing.
• FIG. 16 is a schematic drawing showing a side view of apparatus for heating, transitioning, and quenching glass sheets where the transition zone does not provide vertical support to the glass article.
• FIGS. 17 and 18 are schematic drawings showing side views of apparatus for heating and quenching glass sheets without the use of a transition zone.
• FIG. 17 shows tapering of gap 23 in a heating zone
• FIG. 18 shows tapering of the gap in a quench zone.
• FIG. 19 is a schematic drawing showing a side view of apparatus for heating, transitioning, and quenching glass sheets where the transition zone provides one-sided vertical support to the glass article.
• FIG. 20 is a schematic drawing showing a side view of apparatus for heating, transitioning, and quenching glass sheets where the transition zone provides one-sided vertical support to the glass article by a burner/substrate combination.
• FIG. 21 is a schematic drawing showing a side view of apparatus for heating, transitioning, and quenching glass sheets where the transition zone provides one-sided vertical support to the glass article by liquid metal or liquid salt overflowing a barrier.
• FIG. 22 is a schematic drawing showing a side view of apparatus for heating, transitioning, and quenching glass sheets where the transition zone provides one-sided vertical support to the glass article by a mechanical support having a low thermal mass.
• FIG. 23 is a schematic drawing showing a side view of apparatus for heating, transitioning, and quenching glass sheets where the transition zone provides two-sided vertical support to the glass article.
• FIG. 24 is a schematic drawing showing a side view of apparatus for heating, transitioning, and quenching glass sheets in which the apparatus is at an angle with respect to horizontal.
• FIGS. 2 and 3 schematically illustrate embodiments of systems of the type disclosed in the '232 application for thermally tempering glass articles more by conduction than by convection.
• ⁇ f(L, W, H, t).
• the dimensions of the glass article do not substantially change during the process, i.e., the process does not involve forming or reforming the articles.
• the systems can include a heating zone 27, a transition zone 29, and a quench zone 31, it being understood that the controlled transport methods and apparatus disclosed herein can be applied to all of the zones, only one of the zones, e.g., just the quench zone, or only two of the zones, e.g., just the heating and quench zones, as desired. Also, some embodiments may employ only one of the zones, e.g., only the heating zone if only heating is desired.
• heating zone 27 heats the glass article(s) to a temperature sufficient for thermal tempering
• quench zone 31 lowers the surface temperature of the article(s) at a rate sufficient to achieve a desired level of thermal tempering.
• transition zone 29 (when used) serves as an interface between the high temperatures of the heating zone and the low temperatures of the quench zone.
• heating zone 27 and quench zone 31 each includes gas bearing 33 for supporting the glass article(s) during heating and thermal tempering, respectively.
• the glass article(s) can be supported by a gas bearing in transition zone 29 or, as discussed below in connection with FIGS. 19-23, the glass article(s) can be supported in other ways or can be unsupported (FIG. 16).
• the transition zone can be eliminated with the glass article(s) passing directly from the heating zone to the quench zone.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a case where a series of glass sheets 13 are being thermally tempered
• FIG. 3 illustrates thermal tempering of a continuous glass ribbon 15.
• the glass sheets or the glass ribbon may be produced by, for example, a float process or a downdraw overflow fusion process.
• the one or more glass articles pass through the zones from left to right in these figures.
• the speed of the articles can be the same in each of the zones or can be different, e.g., the speed through the heating zone can be faster, the same, or slower than the speed in the transition zone (when used) and/or the quench zone, or the speed in the transition zone (when used) can be faster, the same, or slower than the speed in the heating zone and/or the quench zone, or the speed in the quench zone can be faster, the same, or slower than the speed in the heating zone and/or the transition zone (when used).
• the speed within any one zone need not be constant.
• the article can become temporarily stationary in one or more of the zones.
• the process can, for example, be characterized as a batch process, a semi-continuous process, or a continuous process.
• the glass sheet(s) can be moving at different speeds at different points in the process.
• the glass sheet(s) can move through the heating zone at one speed or set of speeds, through the transition zone (when used) at another speed or set of speeds, and through the quench zone at still another speed or set of speeds.
• the glass sheets can be moving at different speeds at different points in the process, with the spacings between glass sheets increasing and decreasing as the treatment takes place to avoid contact between the articles.
• a given glass sheet can enter a zone and slow down or become stationary as a result of the application of a gas-based force, with the spacing to the next following glass sheet decreasing during the slow down or stationary period.
• the given glass sheet can then be accelerated by a gas-based force to restore the original spacing or some other spacing as appropriate.
• the process is continuous for any given ribbon. Nevertheless, the effects of different speeds can be achieved through adjustments in the lengths of the zones. Specifically, the effects of a higher speed can be achieved by a shorter zone (shorter residence time), and the effects of a slower speed by a longer zone (longer residence time). Such adjustments in the lengths of the zones can also be used with glass sheets if desired. Also, a combination of zone lengths and zone speeds can be used with glass sheets. In addition to speed considerations, zone lengths can change with the size of the glass sheets being processed, longer zones being used for longer glass sheets. [0040]
• the temperature T of the glass article may be below, at, or above a desired T 0 when the glass article enters the heating zone.
• the temperature is raised to T 0 or in some cases to ⁇ + ⁇ to compensate for heat loss that may occur in the transition zone (when used). If the temperature of the glass article is already at To at the start of the heating zone, then the heating zone can maintain that temperature or, alternatively, raise it to ⁇ + ⁇ . If the temperature is already at ⁇ 0 + ⁇ , the heating zone can maintain that temperature. Alternatively, if the temperature of the article is already at T 0 (or, if desired, at ⁇ + ⁇ ), e.g., because it has been recently formed by, for example, a float or fusion process, the heating zone may be eliminated, with the article going directly to the transition zone (when used) or directly to the quench zone.
• the glass article After leaving the heating zone (when used), the glass article can enter the transition zone (when used), which can serve to minimize adverse impacts to the glass article and/or the process as a result of the sharp change in temperature needed to achieve thermal tempering.
• the transition zone can also be used to change the thickness of gap 23 from that used in the heating zone to that used in the quench zone.
• the gap may be thicker in the heating zone than in the quench zone.
• the transition zone can be used to provide a smooth transition between the gap dimensions.
• the transition zone can use a gas bearing of the type shown in FIGS. 4-15 and discussed below.
• the length of the transition zone can be minimized so that the glass article can pass through the zone unsupported.
• hot glass passing over rollers can develop a type of distortion known as "roller wave” distortion if the spacing between adjacent rollers is too large. The maximum allowable spacing depends on the thickness and viscosity
• FIG. 16 schematically illustrates a system with such a non-supporting transition zone.
• the transition zone can in essence be eliminated with the glass article(s) passing directly from the heating zone to the quench zone.
• the spacing between the heating zone and the quench zone can be less than about five times the thickness of the glass article.
• the gap may be tapered (e.g. , at a taper angle in the range of, for example, 0.001 to 90 degrees, with 90 degrees
• FIGS. 17 and 18 show an example of such tapering (see reference number 55) for the case where gap 23 is thicker in the heating zone than the quench zone.
• FIG. 17 shows tapering in the heating zone
• FIG. 18 shows tapering in the quench zone. Tapering in both zones can be used if desired. Reverse tapers will be used if the gap is thicker in the quench zone than the heating zone. Tapering in the heating and/or quench zones can also be used for embodiments which employ a transition zone.
• the support can be either one-sided support where the supporting system acts from below the glass article or two-sided support where the supporting system acts both from above and from below the glass article. In either case, the magnitude of the upward force per unit area (upward pressure) needed to counteract the effect of gravity is small, as can be seen from the following calculation.
• the weight (W) of the glass sheet is:
• Representative densities for glass sheets (and ribbons) are in the range of 2400- 2800 kg/meter 3 , and representative thicknesses are in the range of 0.1 -12 millimeters. Accordingly, the upward pressure needed to counteract the force of gravity in the transition zone are on the order of 2-300 Pascal (0.0003-0.04 psi).
• FIGS. 19-22 illustrate representative one-sided support systems which can achieve these levels of pressure.
• the one-sided support 57 in FIG. 19 can, for example, be based on ultrasonic levitation (e.g., a frequency in the 5,000-200,000 hertz range and an amplitude in the 1 -2,000 micron range), the Bernoulli principle including the Bernoulli principle as applied in a Bernoulli chuck, or simple gas pressure.
• one-sided support can also be from above the glass article, rather than from below. Compared to the heating zone where heat is added to the glass article and the quench zone where heat is removed from the glass article, relatively low levels of heat transfer take place in the transition zone.
• the support system used in that zone need not satisfy the more-heat-transfer-by-conduction-than-convection criterion which the quench zone satisfies and the heating zone will often satisfy.
• the transition zone can satisfy this criterion if desired.
• FIGS. 20-22 illustrate other types of one-sided support systems that can be used to produce upward pressures sufficient to compensate for the effects of gravity.
• a burner 59 is arranged under a substrate 61 , e.g., a ceramic honeycomb substrate. Hot exhaust gases from the burner pass through the substrate, which collimates the gas stream before it contacts the glass article. The hot gases both support the article and help control its temperature as it passes through the transition zone.
• FIG. 21 shows a support system based on liquid metal or liquid salt (see reference number 63) overflowing a barrier 65. The overflowing liquid metal or liquid salt provides both support and at least some temperature control for the glass article as it passes through the transition zone.
• FIG. 22 shows a support system which uses one or more mechanical
• the support(s) may be stationary or can move with the glass article as illustrated schematically by arrow 69.
• the support(s) may also move vertically or from side-to-side.
• the support(s) can contact the glass article or can provide non-contact support by, for example, a gas cushion between the support and the surface of the article produced by flowing a gas over the top of the support(s).
• FIG. 23 shows the overall structure of a two-sided support system having a top support 71 and a bottom support 73.
• a two-sided system has the advantage that it can be run in a differential mode with pressure being applied to the glass article from both sides, the pressure from below being greater than that from above so as to counteract the effect of gravity.
• differential mode operation helps with movement of the glass article, e.g., differential mode operation can provide self-centering of the article in the transition zone.
• two-sided systems can also be used for two-sided support, with a second copy of the system (either identical or modified) used for the top support.
• two-sided systems can be based on ultrasonic levitation, the Bernoulli principle, simple gas pressure, or the burner/substrate system of FIG. 20.
• An electrostatic chuck with charged plates placed above and below the glass article can also be employed in a two-sided system. Combination systems can also be used.
• the support system when used is to minimize sag in the vertical direction as the glass article passes through the transition zone
• the support system whether one-sided or two-sided, can also apply force to the glass article in the horizontal direction to, for example, control alignment and/or the spacing between sequential glass articles.
• the more-heat-transfer-by-conduction-than-convection criterion is satisfied in quench zone 31 and may be satisfied in heating zone 27 and/or transition zone 29.
• this criterion is satisfied, the flow of gas into gap 23 from gas bearing 33 is low. Consequently, the glass article(s) are in a low friction environment when in gap 23 and thus their motion can be controlled with relatively small gas-based forces.
• the following calculations illustrate the low force magnitudes associated with such a low friction environment.
• ANSYS CFD software ANSYS Inc., Canonsburg, PA
• an individual outlet at an angle from horizontal in the range of approximately 30° can generate a tangential sheer force at least in the micro-Newton range for a flow velocity on the order of a few hundred meters/second.
• the number of outlets can then be adjusted to achieve the accelerations/decelerations of the glass article that are desired.
• FIGS. 4-15 illustrate various ways in which gas-based forces can be applied to glass article(s).
• FIGS. 4-6 illustrate the use of slanted gas bearing outlets 35 formed in gas bearing 33 to apply gas-based forces (e.g., forces with a z-component and an x-component like force 17 in FIG. 1) to glass sheets 13 or to a glass ribbon (not shown in FIGS. 4-6).
• gas-based forces e.g., forces with a z-component and an x-component like force 17 in FIG. 1
• vertical gas bearing outlets 37 are also formed in gas bearing 33.
• outlets serve to support and center the glass article(s) in gap 23 and, with outlets 35, provide the thin, low-flow gas layer (thin because gap 23 is thin and low- flow because the flow through outlets 35 and 37 is low) by which heat transfer by conduction more than by convection is achieved, as explained in the '232 application.
• these vertical gas bearing outlets 37 are also used in the embodiments of FIGS. 7-9, 10-12, and 13-15 for the same purpose.
• FIGS. 7-9 illustrate the use of longitudinal gas walls 39 to apply gas-based forces (e.g., forces with mainly a y-component like force 21 in FIG. 1) to glass sheets 13 or to a glass ribbon (not shown in FIG. 7-9).
• the walls are created by flowing gas 41 through vertical channels formed in gas bearing 33 at the locations where the walls are desired.
• the longitudinal gas walls can be used to maintain the left-right alignment of article(s) in or passing through gap 23.
• three walls are used in FIGS. 7-9, more or less walls can be used depending on the number of rows of glass article(s) being processed and whether alignment is needed from both sides of the article(s) or only one.
• For a glass ribbon only two walls along the opposing edges of the ribbon are used or, in some applications, only one wall along one of the edges.
• FIGS. 10-12 illustrate the use of a side pressure system 43 to apply gas-based forces (e.g., forces with mainly a y-component like force 21 in FIG. 1) to glass sheets 13 or to a glass ribbon (not shown in FIG. 10-12).
• the side pressure system can be used to maintain left-right alignment of article(s) in or passing through gap 23.
• the gas-based force is produced by passing gas transversely into gap 23 using nozzles 45. Although shown as acting on both sides of the glass article(s) in FIGS. 10-12, for some applications, a gas-based force may only be needed on one side.
• the gas-based force can be intermittent and this can be beneficial in achieving left-right alignment, e.g., the locations of the article(s) can be sensed and gas-based, left-right alignment forces only applied when needed.
• FIGS. 13-15 illustrate the use of transverse gas walls 47 to apply gas-based forces (e.g., forces with mainly an x-component like force 19 in FIG. 1) to glass sheets 13.
• the walls are created by flowing gas 49 from nozzles 51 through vertical channels formed in gas bearing 33 at the locations where the walls are desired.
• the transverse gas walls can be used to maintain front-back alignment of articles in or passing through gap 23, as well as the spacing between articles.
• a transverse gas wall can be used to control the speed of a glass article passing through gap 23, including bringing the article to a stop if desired.
• the gas-based forces produced by the transverse gas walls will normally be applied intermittently with the gas flow typically being reduced (including being set to zero) while a glass article is moving past the location where the wall is located.
• a gas wall When a gas wall is used, whether it be a longitudinal or a transverse wall, at least some of the gas flowing from the vertical outlets 37 of gas bearing 33 (and the slanted outlets 35, when used) will enter the gas flow which forms the wall, rather than exiting from the sides of the gas bearing as occurs in the absence of a gas wall(s).
• the gas flow in a gas wall whether a longitudinal or traverse wall, will generally be at least 2-3 times the gas flow from a vertical outlet 37, the amount of flow being dependent on the magnitude of the gas-based force needed to achieve motion control (e.g. , steering) of the glass article(s) at the location of the wall.
• the gas used in the above embodiments, as well as in other embodiments, can have a variety of compositions.
• the gas can be one gas or a mixture of gases from different gas sources or the same gas source.
• Exemplary gases include air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, helium or other noble gases, hydrogen and combinations thereof.
• the apparatus for practicing the disclosed methods e.g., apparatus of the type shown generically in FIGS. 2 and 3
• the apparatus for practicing the disclosed methods can be tilted relative to horizontal, e.g., by angle 53 in FIG. 24, so that gravity contributes to the motion of the glass article.
• mechanical or other forces can be applied to the glass article(s) in addition to the gas-based force(s). Indeed, gravity, mechanical, or other forces alone can be used to move glass article(s) through the process, e.g., in connection with the systems discussed herein for transitioning a glass sheet or a glass ribbon between a heating zone and a quench zone.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Re-Forming, After-Treatment, Cutting And Transporting Of Glass Products (AREA)
• Surface Treatment Of Glass (AREA)

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Citations (5)

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• 2017
  • 2017-01-27 CN CN201780008972.7A patent/CN108602709A/zh active Pending
  • 2017-01-27 WO PCT/US2017/015280 patent/WO2017132473A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2017-01-27 US US16/073,888 patent/US20190039938A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2017-01-27 KR KR1020187024630A patent/KR20180108724A/ko unknown
  • 2017-01-27 JP JP2018539907A patent/JP2019508356A/ja active Pending

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